The Giants are used to playing in the windy conditions of MetLife Stadium, so San Francisco shouldn’t faze them in that regard during their late Sunday kickoff in the NFC championship game. But Candlestick Park, not far above sea level, is known for having a slow field. There’s a good chance of rain with a forecast that calls for temperatures in the high 40s to high 50s.

New York relies more on the downfield passing game with Eli Manning to move the ball. The 49ers, who like to win ugly with their running game, defense and special teams operating at a high level, are the better “mudder” of the two teams. The hosts will welcome anything that would slow Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz in the slightest.

New England is well known for thriving in Foxborough when the cold and snow are in the mix for the playoffs. Although the Ravens are familiar with such conditions from playing in the AFC North, it will be challenging to disrupt the Patriots in their own favorite element.

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Because of that, the Ravens and 49ers need to respond by putting all hands on deck for Joe Flacco and Alex Smith. Flacco’s top receivers are wideouts Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, but the Ravens need to get their less-heralded second-year tight ends, Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, heavily involved in the passing game. Smith has a clear-cut go-to guy in tight end Vernon Davis, but skilled young receivers Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams need to be more than flashes in the game plan.

The advantage for Flacco and Smith is they don’t have to face their own teams’ pressure defenses. If the Ravens and 49ers can raise the level of their pass protection, their quarterbacks will have chances to hit big pass plays.

Considering the offenses of the Ravens and 49ers, it’s not a big secret that running backs Ray Rice and Frank Gore will get plenty of touches Sunday. With similar compact builds, they both have great burst once they gain the edge as rushers and outlet receivers. It will be important for their teams to spring them loose for multiple long gains.

New England and New York don’t field Pro Bowl backs but keep defenses on their toes by shuffling in different style runners. The Patriots may have limited success trying to smash BenJarvus Green-Ellis against Baltimore’s front seven, but they will look to get the more slippery Danny Woodhead to squirt outside. The Ravens also will need to be prepared for the Patriots’ new wrinkle of lining up Hernandez in the backfield.

Likewise, the Giants can’t expect their hammer, Brandon Jacobs, to pound through the heart of San Francisco’s defense. Rather, they will be more confident striking with the shiftier Ahmad Bradshaw. With each week, Bradshaw is further removed from his midseason foot woes and is showing more of his familiar quickness.

Myth: Sacks will be the key stat in Sunday’s games.

Reality: Interceptions will be the key stat in Sunday’s games.

Flacco and Smith, facing the pass rushes of the Patriots and Giants, will need to get the ball out quickly to avoid negative plays. But when they’re under duress, it’s most important they don’t succumb to the pressure in the form of turnovers.

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Flacco was brought down five times, which tied his career high, against Houston in the divisional playoffs, but he didn’t throw an interception in contrast to the three thrown by Texans counterpart T.J. Yates. The Ravens were able to recover Flacco’s lone fumble while Smith’s lone turnover against the Saints came on a similar play.

Brady and Manning each threw early interceptions in their divisional playoff games. But considering their history of clutch second halves, their margin for error is much bigger than Flacco’s and Smith’s. It’s not enough for the Ravens and 49ers to rack up sacks against those elite quarterbacks. They must force interceptions, and Flacco and Smith must capitalize on those mistakes. When the Patriots and Giants pick off passes, it usually leads to big plays by Brady and Manning off the bonus possessions.

Myth: The pressure is on the kickers.

Reality: The pressure is on the punters.

The Giants’ Lawrence Tynes has made a game-winning field goal in a championship game before. The Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski (Adam Vinatieri) and the Ravens’ Billy Cundiff (Matt Stover) have given their teams the stability that familiar veteran legs once gave them. The 49ers boast the most reliable three-point specialist of them in all in former Eagle David Akers.

If there’s a chance to make a late-game attempt from a reasonable distance, any of those four kickers would be up to the task. But for their teams to get to that point in what likely will be two close games, winning the battle of field position is critical.

The 49ers pair Akers with fellow Pro Bowl punter Andy Lee, and they need Lee to help make the explosive Giants start several drives inside their 20. The Ravens need Sam Koch to do his best to similarly pin back Brady and the Patriots.

If Zoltan Mesko has a big, booming game for New England, the Ravens will be hard-pressed to match the Patriots scoring drive for scoring drive. If it’s indeed rainy in San Francisco, the appropriately named Steve Weatherford will be under pressure to be at his best to not allow a big game-changing return by the 49ers’ Ted Ginn. The headliners in Sunday’s games are the arms, but the legs also will play a key part in the outcomes.